Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110114607 | INCREMENTAL HYBRID WELDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments of a welding power supply include an engine adapted to drive a generator to produce a first power and a energy storage device adapted to discharge energy to produce a second power. The welding power supply also includes control circuitry adapted to detect a commanded output. The control circuitry is adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power when the commanded output is below a first predetermined load level. The control circuitry is further adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine and the energy storage device to produce the first power and the second power when the commanded output is above a second predetermined load level. | 05-19-2011 |
20110114608 | ENERGY STORAGE CADDY FOR A WELDING SYSTEM - Embodiments of energy storage caddies adapted to couple to a welding power supply are provided. The energy storage caddies may include an energy storage device, a charger, control circuitry, and power conversion circuitry. Certain control circuitry may be adapted to control the energy storage device to discharge to provide a direct current (DC) voltage output to the welding power supply when a weld load demand is detected, to monitor a charge level of the energy storage device, and to alert a user to an error when the charge level of the energy storage device falls below a predetermined limit. | 05-19-2011 |
20110114616 | WELDING SYSTEM WITH LOCKOUT MECHANISM - Embodiments of a welding system including a controller adapted to implement a lockout mechanism are provided. The controller may be adapted to selectively activate a learn mode and a use mode of a component of the welding system. When the learn mode is activated, the controller receives an allowable data set and stores the allowable data set to memory. When the use mode is activated, the controller receives an operational data set, references the allowable data set to check if the operational data set is allowable, logs the operational data set and enables the component of the welding system to operate when the operational data set is allowable, and disables the component of the welding system when the operational data set is not allowable. | 05-19-2011 |
20110180522 | SMART GRID WELDING SYSTEM - Welding system and method permit exchange of data with Smart Grid monitors and/or controllers. The welding systems include a welding power supply configured to convert power between the power grid and the welding power supply. A grid interface cooperates with control circuitry to transmit data to and/or from the grid monitors and/or controllers on the grid side. The control circuitry may control operation of the welding power supply based upon data from the grid. The system may include power generation devices (e.g., engine-drive generators) and energy storage devices (e.g., batteries). The control circuitry may control operation of such devices, the exchange of power between them, and the draw of power from the grid or the application of power to the grid based upon the data exchanged with the grid monitors and/or controllers. | 07-28-2011 |
20110290765 | AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC WELDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods and devices for control for an automated welding system are provided. Disclosed control methods may include receiving a data set including one or more features of a joint to be welded and receiving a weld procedure for the joint to be welded. The weld procedure for the joint is determined based on a sample virtual weld performed by an operator, a stored procedure developed for a substantially similar weld joint, or a combination thereof. The method may further include determining one or more desired changes to the weld procedure based on the received features of the joint to be welded and generating an updated weld procedure by altering one or more parameters of the received weld procedure in accordance with the one or more desired changes, wherein the one or more parameters are included within a predetermined allowable data set. | 12-01-2011 |
20130020298 | HYBRID WELDING SYSTEMS AND DEVICES - A hybrid welding device including a fuel cell and an energy storage device that cooperate to power a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation are provided. In some embodiments, the hybrid welding device may also include an engine coupled to a generator that is configured to supplement the power provided by the fuel cell and/or the energy storage device. The hybrid welding device may be adapted to provide power for a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation when operated as a standalone unit and/or when connected to a primary source of utility power. | 01-24-2013 |
20130020299 | HYBRID WELDING SYSTEMS AND DEVICES - A hybrid welding device including a fuel cell and an energy storage device that cooperate to power a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation are provided. In some embodiments, the hybrid welding device may also include an engine coupled to a generator that is configured to supplement the power provided by the fuel cell and/or the energy storage device. The hybrid welding device may be adapted to provide power for a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation when operated as a standalone unit and/or when connected to a primary source of utility power. | 01-24-2013 |
20130020300 | HYBRID WELDING SYSTEMS AND DEVICES - A hybrid welding device including a fuel cell and an energy storage device that cooperate to power a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation are provided. In some embodiments, the hybrid welding device may also include an engine coupled to a generator that is configured to supplement the power provided by the fuel cell and/or the energy storage device. The hybrid welding device may be adapted to provide power for a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation when operated as a standalone unit and/or when connected to a primary source of utility power. | 01-24-2013 |
20130040270 | SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR WELDING TRAINING - A system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding training system includes a display configured to show welding features related to a training welding operation. The system also includes a training workpiece having a substantially transparent weld joint configured to be placed adjacent to the display during the training welding operation. The system includes a processing device coupled to the display and configured to provide welding data relating to the training welding operation to the display. The system also includes a training torch comprising an optical sensor. The training torch is coupled to the processing device and configured to provide the processing device with data from the optical sensor corresponding to a position of the training torch relative to the training workpiece. | 02-14-2013 |
20130288211 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRAINING A WELDING OPERATOR - A welding, plasma cutting, or heat induction system to train a welding operator. The system includes a display configured to show a prerecorded video selected from multiple prerecorded videos. The prerecorded videos correspond to a welding application, a plasma cutting application, a heat induction application, or some combination thereof. | 10-31-2013 |
20130299477 | REMOTELY CONTROLLED WELDING MACHINE - The present invention is directed to a remotely controlled welding machine. A remote control uses the welding circuit to transfer information to a welding power source. The information to be communicated to the power source includes welding power source output command information (amperage/voltage control), welding circuit on/off information (power source output contactor control), and power source mode control (constant voltage/constant current). A transmitter transmits the desired welding operational parameters to a receiver disposed in the power source. The transmitter is constructed to use only a small amount of power which, preferably, is supplied by one or two low voltage replaceable and/or rechargeable batteries. Additionally, an open circuit voltage is not created between the power source and an electrode holder when an arc is not present. | 11-14-2013 |
20130341311 | WELD DEFECT DETECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LASER HYBRID WELDING - Laser hybrid welding systems adapted to identify and/or fix a weld defect occurring during a laser hybrid welding process are provided. Embodiments of the laser hybrid welding system may include one or more devices that provide feedback to a controller regarding one or more weld parameters. One embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes sensors that are adapted to measure the weld voltage and/or amperage during the welding process and transmit the acquired data to the controller for processing. Another embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes a lead camera and a lag camera that film an area directly in front of the weld location and directly behind the weld location. | 12-26-2013 |
20140001167 | WELDING SYSTEM UTILIZING A DISTRIBUTED POWER BUS | 01-02-2014 |
20140054276 | INCREMENTAL HYBRID WELDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments of a welding power supply include an engine adapted to drive a generator to produce a first power and a energy storage device adapted to discharge energy to produce a second power. The welding power supply also includes control circuitry adapted to detect a commanded output. The control circuitry is adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power when the commanded output is below a first predetermined load level. The control circuitry is further adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine and the energy storage device to produce the first power and the second power when the commanded output is above a second predetermined load level. | 02-27-2014 |
20140144899 | WELD PARAMETER INTERFACE - A system and method for determining settings or parameters for a welding-type power source are provided. By presenting an operator with an interface that is positioned along the path of a weld cable and configured to input weld characteristics, an operator is not required to determine electrical parameters for setting a welding-type power source output at the power source. The interface is presented to the operator at a remote welding-type device, such as a wire feeder, a weld robot, a torch, or the like. From the operator-specified weld characteristics, the system and method determine appropriate settings for the power source. In some embodiments, the system and method may automatically set the power source accordingly. | 05-29-2014 |
20140166633 | WIRELESS SYSTEM CONTROL AND INVENTORY MONITORING FOR WELDING-TYPE DEVICES - A welding-type system is designed for wireless control and for inventory monitoring of welding consumables. The welding-type system includes a power source to produce a welding-type power, wherein the power source is operable in a plurality of operating modes. The welding-type system also includes a controller configured to set a plurality of operating parameters within the power source, at least one wireless monitoring device coupled to the controller, and at least one welding-type consumable associated with a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter is configured to emit low frequency magnetic signals having consumable data encoded therein that is indicative of the at least one welding-type consumable. The wireless monitoring device is arranged to communicate with the wireless transmitter by receiving and transmitting the low frequency magnetic signals, with the low frequency magnetic signals being transmitted at a frequency of approximately 131 kHz. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166634 | REMOTELY CONTROLLED WELDING MACHINE - The present invention is directed to a remotely controlled welding machine. A remote control uses the welding circuit to transfer information to a welding power source. The information to be communicated to the power source includes welding power source output command information (amperage/voltage control), welding circuit on/off information (power source output contactor control), and power source mode control (constant voltage/constant current). A transmitter transmits the desired welding operational parameters to a receiver disposed in the power source. The transmitter is constructed to use only a small amount of power which, preferably, is supplied by one or two low voltage replaceable and/or rechargeable batteries. Additionally, an open circuit voltage is not created between the power source and an electrode holder when an arc is not present. | 06-19-2014 |
20140214604 | WIRELESS TRACKING AND INVENTORY MONITORING FOR WELDING-TYPE DEVICES - A welding-type device has a wireless communication unit to transmit wireless signals comprising at least identification information or location information. The information may be transmitted either automatically or in response to request signals. Such a welding-type device may be configured to communicate with other welding-type devices, a monitoring device, or both. A wireless communication system has at least one welding-type device, at least one wireless communication assembly, and at least one monitoring device and is capable of assisting a user in locating particular welding-type devices, monitoring inventory, preventing theft of welding-type devices, and scheduling preventive maintenance. | 07-31-2014 |
20140284323 | WIRELESS SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THEFT OF WELDING-TYPE DEVICES - A welding-type device has wireless communications to transmit wireless signals comprising at least identification information. The information may be transmitted either automatically or in response to request signals. Such a welding-type device may be configured to communicate with other welding-type devices, a monitoring device, or both. A wireless communication system has at least one welding-type device, at least one wireless communication assembly, and at least one monitoring device and is capable of assisting a user in preventing theft of welding-type devices. | 09-25-2014 |
20140332516 | POWER SOURCE WITH RECHARGEABLE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE - The present invention is directed to a welding-type power source that includes a power source housing and an engine arranged in the power source housing to supply electrical power. An energy storage device is included that is in rechargeable association with the internal combustion engine and arranged to provide welding-type power for at least a given period. | 11-13-2014 |
20150021379 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM FOR JOINING AND SURFACE OVERLAY - An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials. | 01-22-2015 |
20150021815 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING HEATING CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, a temperature control device configured to control a temperature of the part, and a controller configured to control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part independent from control of the temperature of the part via the temperature control device. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material. | 01-22-2015 |
20150083710 | METAL HEATING AND WORKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A workpiece may be heated with one or more induction heating coils coupled to an induction heating and control system. The heating is done in conjunction with a metal working operation, such as welding. The heating may be performed to remove coatings and the like before welding, to apply claddings and the like following welding, to allow for improved porosity of a weld bead, and so forth. Induction heating heads may be placed before or after a welding torch, and may be moved with or independently. One or more induction heating heads may be placed in pipe to be welded, such as on, in, or adjacent to an internal pipe claim that holds pipe during welding. | 03-26-2015 |